No. 1 King Of Valor

7: Not Worthy

Kael's hands were already covered in sweat. Even when he led troops in life-threatening wars, not once did he feel so nervous.

CREAK!

The huge but worn-out mahogany doors swung open. Kael's face lit up with an excited smile as he rushed towards the person that opened the door.

"Bri—uncle Rowan?" his words trailed off when he caught sight of the person at the entrance. His face turned slightly sour and his excited smile turned awkward.

"Uncle Rowan, it's a surprise you chose today to visit our house. But please, don't mention anything yet to Bridget. I want to surprise..."

Kael was rambling on happily, he didn't notice the change of expression on the middle-aged man's face.

"Bridget?" Pure confusion clouded Rowan Sterling's face. Then realization dawned on him and his expression changed to fury in an instant.

"You bastard! You still have the guts to mention Bridget?! Where have you been for the past nine years?!"

"Uncle, I—" Kael was puzzled at Rowan's sudden outburst and almost didn't know what to say.

"You...! Did you desert your military post?" Rowan pointed a finger at him glaringly.

Three years after Kael enlisted in the army, news came to Solara city from the army that he had died during a special mission.

But now that Kael was actually alive and not dead like the rumors claimed, Rowan could only think of one possibility.

This brat probably couldn't endure the hardship at the army so he faked his own death and got people to spread the news so he could run away.

Thus, because the army couldn't find him, they accepted the news and declared him dead! This sneaky brat!

Wasn't he the one who insisted stubbornly on joining the army back then? If only he had stayed back, maybe Bridget and her father would still be alive now.

"Desert my military post? Uncle Rowan, what are you talking about?" Kael frowned and instinctively retreated.

As a veteran, he could more easily deduce information from words than anyone else. Something was wrong somewhere. Rowan's words filled him with uneasiness.

"Uncle, hold on. Before anything, let me go in and see Bridget first. Then we can find out what exactly is going—"

"I told you to leave! You are not welcome here!" Rowan interrupted him, trembling all over with fury.

"You deserted your military post. You ran away. You lived like a coward. How dare you return now after everything? Leave this instant!"

Kael was filled with a sense of dread. His voice grew smaller as he asked, "Uncle Rowan, what do you mean by after everything? Where's Bridget? I want to see my wife."

"Humph! So now you remember that you still have a wife?" Rowan spat contemptuously. "Do you even know what happened to Bridget while you were living out there like the weakling you are?!"

Kael began to shake. Now he was certain that something terrible had happened. Something had gone wrong. But what was it?

"Bridget is dead!"

DEAD!

The last word was the only word that registered in Kael's head. He froze like he had been struck by lightning. His mind went blank.

Bridget was dead?

His sweet, beautiful wife was dead?

How is that possible? No! It can't be!

Kael suddenly grabbed Rowan's arms fiercely. His eyes reddened like a demon that had just escaped from Sheol.

"You are joking right uncle Rowan? Please, don't make such cruel jokes. How could my wife be dead? I didn't receive any news like that in the army. So how can she be dead? No..."

"Would I joke about my niece's life? Why would I lie to you?!" Rowan's face was full of disdain and hatred.

He violently shook off Kael who had suddenly gone weak at the tragic news and kicked him right into the mud.

THUD!

"Kael, we don't need your pretentious face here. Where were you when she was being tortured? Where were you when those animals killed her? You have no idea just how much she suffered!"

Rowan pointed a finger at him and spat, "You are no different from those animals! You should have just died instead of returning now!"

Even though Kael's face drained of color and silent tears were now rolling down his cheeks, Rowan felt no pang of pity for him.

Just thinking of how much his brother and niece had suffered... Imagining the terror those two poor little children were facing out there, Rowan's heart hardened.

"You are not worthy of being a husband or a father!"